Our Emotional Wellbeing and Participation Officer, Sarah Haigh, spoke to Laura, a mum of four children, three of whom have different special educational needs. Laura shares her top tips for getting ready for the new school year that we thought would be useful to other parents in Kent.
Talk through what’s going to happen
“Try to make it a positive experience.” - Laura
Talk to your child about school in a relaxed and positive way. If they’re returning to school, remind them of their successes and the things they enjoyed before.
If your child is starting a new school then explain what they can expect and pick out some things to look forward to: new friends, learning new things, favourite activities.
Try on school uniforms
“Don't leave uniform to the last minute. Shops normally have it a couple of weeks before the summer holidays.” - Laura
Trying on their school uniform a couple of weeks before starting school gives children a chance to get used to it, feel comfortable and make any adjustments needed.
For children who struggle with fine motor skills you can use clever swaps. For example:
- Avoid lace up or buckle school shoes and opt for elasticated slip on shoes or stretchy elastic laces.
- Try polo shirts that go over the head instead of formal button up shirts.
- Check if jumpers, cardigans and sweatshirts are easier to put on over the head, instead of using fiddly buttons, or find zipped or Velcro alternatives.
You can buy school clothing specifically designed for SEND children from high street shops including George at ASDA and Marks and Spencer.
Practice the routine
“Let the children have ownership over their school bags, for primary school especially because it can be really fun. It was then very easy for them to know that's their property, as well as labelling everything.” - Laura
When you are trying to juggle other tasks or responsibilities like caring for siblings, getting yourself to work or appointments and running a home, getting to school on time needs careful planning.
Get into the school routine as soon as you can, from packing school bags, going to bed early, waking up, eating breakfast and trying on their school uniform. Discuss how long children think they will need to do everything before school.
Try having analogue clocks where children can see them and use visual cues and a visual timetable to help them stay on track. Write a list for them to check every day (or if they are older get them to write the list) to help them remember what they need for school.
Practice the journey
“If you're walking do a couple of trips up to the school and back so they can see what it's like and how long it'll take. Make it a game about what you can see on the way to school and back. This might help distract them if they're feeling a bit anxious about going.” - Laura
Whether your child will be getting to school by walking, cycling, public transport or by car, practice the journey with them before term starts to get familiar with the journey and how long it will take. Make sure they have a bus pass or Travel Saver if they need one.
Getting the bus at the start of the school year is a big change, especially for new Year 7 children making these journeys for the first time. Keep a note in their school bag of the services that can be used to complete the journey, the times they operate and where to use it from.
Remember that Kent Travel Saver passes allow access to any bus service in Kent, so think about the alternatives that could be used in the event that there is an issue with the first choice of journey, such as different services or journeys that run a little bit later than the first choice.
In addition to Laura’s handy advice, here are a couple more useful tips.
Healthy school lunches
During the school day, your child will have to get used to the routines of break and lunchtime. Consider portion sizes that are easy to eat in the limited lunch/snack time available in school and use packaging or containers that are easy to open and/or reseal.
Encourage your child to think about foods they enjoy and use these as a discussion opportunity about alternatives. If you can afford to, let them help choose their ‘special’ lunchbox and a reusable drinks bottle.
Use the Eatwell Guide from the NHS for ideas to create a balanced lunchbox.
Make a plan
There might be specific situations that your child is worried about, like getting lost, forgetting homework, being overwhelmed or struggling to make friends. Talk through these scenarios, be positive and reassuring and have a plan, for example speaking to a teacher.
Settling into school can take a few weeks and your child is likely to be more tired or clingy than normal. Listen to them, reassure them and let them have quiet time to recharge after school. Don’t hesitate to speak to the school if you have concerns.
What should you do if your child struggles to settle in at school?
If your child is struggling either to settle back into school or having trouble adjusting to their new school, please speak to your child’s teacher, pupil support or pastoral lead.
SEND support is available in all schools for everyone. Our SEND Mainstream Core Standards provide a framework for schools to put in place support for children, taking into account their individual needs. You can use this framework to start a conversation with your child’s school.
If you're concerned about your child’s progress at school, you should talk to their teacher or SENCo. A SENCo is a qualified teacher who is responsible for assessing, planning and monitoring the progress of young people with SEND. Find out how a SENCO can support your child.
